Giving Honor to Whom Honor is Due

Douglas Shelton

Date

October 17, 2024

Veterans recognized for their service during Camden County Medal Ceremony

Silence fell over the room as Marine Corps Sergeant William Mead CCAS’79 GSC’88 took the stage to perform the national anthem. Voices rose in unison as Paul Marone, retired Colonel U.S. Army Reserve and Rutgers University–Camden public affairs doctoral student, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. The words of the anthem and pledge meant something special to those gathered to honor military veterans from Rutgers–Camden.

On Wednesday, October 16, the Camden County Board of Commissioners, in partnership with Rutgers–Camden held the Camden County Medal Ceremony to recognize students, faculty, and staff who are Camden County residents and who served in the U.S. armed forces and as first responders.

Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane served as the evening’s master of ceremonies. As a Gold Star mother, Commissioner Kane spoke about her son Jeremy, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps and a criminal justice major at Rutgers–Camden who was killed in action while deployed in Afghanistan in 2010.

Camden County Medal Ceremony - Medlina Kane

Thank you so much for your bravery and sacrifices that have taken place through countless decades of service to our nation. We are eternally grateful for you.

Melinda Kane

Camden County Commissioner

Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis addressed the crowd of veterans and their supporters of family, friends, and colleagues. “It is a tremendous honor for me to join you as we celebrate those members of our Rutgers–Camden community who are our neighbors in Camden County and, most importantly, who have served in America’s armed forces,” Chancellor Tillis said. “I thank all of you for your service. And I assure you that Rutgers–Camden will continue to provide student-veterans with the highest levels of support.”